Statement of Intent...Climate Change Commission | Statement of Intent July 2020 – June 2024 Ngā mihi nui ki a tātou Welcome to the Climate Change Commission. We are a new Crown

Climate Change Commission

July 2020 – June 2024

Statement of Intent

C.31

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ngā mihi nui ki a tātou 1The Commission at a glance 2Statement of responsibility 3Chair’s message 4The establishment of the Climate Change Commission 6Timeline 8 What we do 9Our purpose 9Our vision 9Our mission 9Our work 9 The role we play 12 Our approach 13How we will make a difference 14Our outcomes framework 15 How we will measure the difference we are making 16Reporting on impacts 17Reporting on outcomes 17Organisational health and capability 18Values 18 Wellbeing strategy 19Valuing diversity 19Being a good employer 19Strategic risks 20Our financial outlook 22Glossary 23

Statement of Intent 2020-2024Date: August 2020 ISSN 2703-5794 (Print) ISSN 2703-5808 (Online)

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Presented to the House of Representatives pursuant to Section 139 of the Crown Entities Act 2004

Climate Change Commission | Statement of Intent July 2020 – June 2024

Ngā mihi nui ki a tātouWelcome to the Climate Change Commission. We are a new Crown entity and it’s our job to provide independent, evidence-based advice to Government to help Aotearoa transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions future. We deal in the facts about climate change and it’s our intent to create positive change for Aotearoa and the world.

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The Commission at a glance• We are a new independent Crown entity set

up to provide expert, evidence-based advice to successive governments to help Aotearoa transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions future.

• We also monitor and review the Government’s progress towards its emissions reduction and adaptation goals.

• Our independence means we can provide impartial advice, challenge and hold the Government to account for action on climate change.

• We are a small team dedicated to ensuring we can pass a better Aotearoa on to future generations. We have a range of expertise, including in economics, public policy, land and resource management, Māori sector, climate science, behavioural sciences, forestry, agriculture and energy. We are supported by a board of seven commissioners, also from varying fields.

• The Commission was established by an amendment to the Climate Change Response Act 2002 (the Act) called the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019.

• We work to achieve the deliverables and timeframes set out in the Act.

• This includes reviewing the 2050 emissions reduction target, providing advice on the preparation of emissions budgets and emissions reduction plans, monitoring progress towards meeting emissions budgets, emissions reduction plans and the 2050 target, preparing national climate change risk assessments, and monitoring and reporting on the implementation of national adaptation plans.

• With the passing of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Act 2020 by Parliament,

we are taking on additional functions including advising on settings for the Emissions Trading Scheme and reporting on progress on primary sector climate change commitments.

• From time to time, the Minister for Climate Change will ask us for advice on specific topics. We also provide other independent advice on matters we believe will impact on the ability of Aotearoa to meet its climate change goals.

• The Climate Change Response Act requires us to draw from the best available evidence and analysis and to think broadly about the impacts of climate change and the implications for Aotearoa over time. In doing so, we take a wide systems view so we understand what our advice will mean for central and local government, for individuals and households, for business sectors and communities, for Iwi/Māori, and for our economy and our environment now and into the future.

• We are committed to taking an inclusive approach, working collaboratively with others so we can grow consensus and inspire action to change.

• The Act also requires us to uphold the Treaty partnership and give specific consideration to impacts for Māori. As an organisation we will endeavour to build meaningful and respectful relationships with Iwi/Māori.

• The Commission’s work programme directly reflects two of the Government’s key issues in This is Our Plan – 1D. Transition to a clean, green carbon neutral New Zealand (under “An economy that is growing and working for all of us”) and 3D. Create an international reputation we can be proud of (under “Making New Zealand proud”).

See Glossary for an explanation of terms.

2 Climate Change Commission | Statement of Intent July 2020 – June 2024

This document constitutes our Statement of Intent (SOI) as required under the Crown Entities Act 2004.

It sets out the Commission’s strategic direction for the four years ending June 2024 and details how the Commission will carry out its purposes during this period, as set out in the Climate Change Response Act 2002.

The SOI provides a medium-term outlook (four years) with a focus on the Commission’s strategic objectives and how these will be delivered. The SOI should be read alongside our Statement of Performance Expectations (SPE) which has a one-year horizon and sets out what we will deliver and how our performance will be assessed to account for the government funding we receive.

Because of the impact of Covid-19, the Minister for Climate Change has allowed the deferment of timeframes for delivery of the Commission’s first SOI and SPE. Our performance measures are based on the Climate Change Commission’s outcomes framework, which is described in this document.

This SOI has been prepared in accordance with section 139 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

Statement of responsibility

Dr Rod Carr Chair27 July 2020

Ms Lisa Tumahai Deputy Chair27 July 2020

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A COMMITTED AOTEAROA

The establishment of an independent Climate Change Commission is a commitment by Aotearoa to take strong and decisive action to address climate change. The Commission was formed alongside the setting of the country’s climate targets in November 2019 under the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act.

The Act passed without objection showing New Zealanders’ readiness to transition to a climate-resilient, low-emissions Aotearoa – and to harness the opportunities of a zero-carbon future.

We will provide independent, evidence-based advice to successive governments on the actions Aotearoa should take to achieve our long-term climate goals. Our advice will focus on a transition that is equitable and inclusive, protects livelihoods, makes economic sense, and delivers a thriving, climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa to pass on to our children, and our children’s children.

COMMON THREAT AND COMMON PURPOSE

When the Covid-19 pandemic threatened, we saw the strength of transparent and evidence-based decision-making, and the power of collective action from individuals, communities, Iwi/Māori, and business. We saw the willingness of New Zealanders to change their lives for a common purpose when faced with a common threat.

This is how we need to respond to climate change. And that response must start now because the climate is changing. We can already see it in the warmer, wetter, windier and in places drier weather affecting communities across Aotearoa.

WE ARE THE CAUSE AND THE CURE

To achieve our climate targets, all our choices and decisions must be seen through a climate change lens.

As a government, as businesses, as workers. As homeowners, voters, commuters, consumers. In every role we hold we need to consider how each choice we make increases or decreases greenhouse gas emissions and better prepares me, my family, my business, my community, Aotearoa and the world for the future.

Every investment, every decision, every action, needs to consider its emissions contribution and impact on our progress toward a climate-resilient society.

This is also about opportunities – not just about what we need to give up. It’s about how we use known and new technology and innovation to reduce emissions and enhance removals. How we create jobs, grow the economy, and enhance our lives and livelihoods.

We must confront choices and trade-offs, but we can create a better world – less vulnerable, more sustainable, and more resilient.

Chair’s message


COLLABORATIVE AND INDEPENDENT

The Commission is committed to ensuring Aotearoa does this right. We are working to provide the data and modelling, we are evaluating the science and technology, we are partnering with Iwi/Māori, and we are assessing what policies will help us reach our targets, and what will hold us back.

This will require committed collaboration. Collaboration means we need to be curious about what we don’t know and humble about what we think we know. We need to draw in and draw on others. Our engagement focus acknowledges that a difficult journey can be a success if it is inclusive.

There is a role for the Commission in questioning thinking across both central and local government, as well as the private sector. There will be times when our advice is challenging. But to create real change, it is vital.

We recognise that while this is a time of uncertainty, it is also one of opportunity. What we plan for and build now is what we will have in the future. We are all in this together.

THE WORK BEGINS NOW

This is the Commission’s first Statement of Intent. We have a lot to deliver in our first four years, but we must have an eye on the future too. There are ten election cycles between now and 2050 when Aotearoa must meet its climate goals – the Climate Change Commission is in this for the long haul.

But, right now, our work begins – if we wait until tomorrow, we will be too late.

Dr Rod Carr Chair

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In November 2019, the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act was passed by Parliament. This commits Aotearoa to a long-term emissions reduction target for 2050 and requires the Government to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects of climate change. It also established the Climate Change Commission to provide independent, expert advice to the Government and to monitor and review progress towards our emissions reduction and adaptation goals.

AOTEAROA CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS

The Government has set domestic and international targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This puts us on the path to a climate-resilient, low-emissions future.

The domestic 2050 target requires at least:Our international targets are:

reduction in net emissions below

1990 gross emissions for

the period 2013-2020

emissions of all greenhouse

gases other than biogenic methane

by and beyond 2050

reduction in net emissions below

2005 (or 11% below 1990) gross

emissions for the period 2021-2030

reduction below 2017 biogenic

methane emissions by 2030

reduction below 2017 biogenic

methane emissions by and

beyond 2050

5% 30% net zero 10% 24 to

47%

The establishment of the Climate Change Commission


These targets will help Aotearoa fulfil its responsibilities under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which came into force in 2016. The Paris Agreement established the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. The 1.5 degrees Celsius goal has now been reflected in our domestic legislation through the passing of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019.

The climate is already changing and past emissions have locked in further change. The pace and scale at which Aotearoa will need to adapt will largely be driven by these past emissions and the world’s ability to reduce emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goal.

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TIMELINE

New Zealand signs the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Rio Earth Summit, acknowledging that human activities contribute to climate change and recognising climate change as an issue of global concern.

The international community concludes the Kyoto Protocol, setting binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for industrialised countries including New Zealand.

Climate Change Response Act puts in place a legal framework to enable New Zealand to meet its international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

Zero Carbon Bill proposals, Interim Climate Change Committee formed.

Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act passed by Parliament, providing a new framework for climate change policy and establishing an independent Climate Change Commission.

1992

1997

New Zealand joins 195 other countries in adopting the Paris Agreement, which for the first time brings all countries into efforts to take action on climate change.

2002

2018

2020

2015

2019Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Act passed by Parliament, creating additional functions for the Climate Change Commission.


The Climate Change Commission provides independent, expert advice to Government to help Aotearoa transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions future. We are seven ‘working’ commissioners and a small team of highly skilled staff. We are accountable to the Minister for Climate Change for our performance.

OUR PURPOSE The Act describes two key purposes for the Commission:

1. To provide independent, expert advice to the Government on mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects; and

2. To monitor and review the Government’s progress towards its emissions reduction and adaptation goals.

OUR VISIONOur vision is of A thriving, climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa.

OUR MISSIONOur mission is To deliver independent, evidence-based advice to guide climate change action for Aotearoa.

OUR WORKOur core work programme is set out in legislation. The Act requires the Commission to perform specific tasks and deliver within specific timeframes. Due to Covid-19 disruption, the first major set of delivery timeframes has been extended by four months to 31 May 2021.

The Commission also provides the Government with other independent advice on key issues. This includes issues that could impact Aotearoa’s ability to meet its climate change goals and/or will assist the Commission to fulfil its role.

Key functions and tasks are set out over the page. As a new entity, the Commission is committed to establishing the effective practices, policies and systems required to deliver such a significant work programme.

What we do

See the Glossary for the definition of terms used

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KEY DELIVERABLES ADVICE TIMEFRAMES1

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

1 Review the 2050 emissions target and, if necessary, recommend changes Dec Dec Sept

• Review of inclusion of emissions from international shipping and aviation in 2050 target

Dec

2 Provide advice to the Minister to enable preparation of emissions budgets May Dec Dec Sept

3 Provide advice to the Minister to enable the preparation of emissions reduction plans May Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec

4 Monitor and report on progress towards meeting emissions budgets, emissions reduction plans and the 2050 target

July

5 Prepare national climate change risk assessments

6 Monitor and report on the implementation of national adaptation plans

7 Make recommendations about limits and price control settings for units in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

8 Make recommendations about increased or decreased phase-out rates for industrial allocation

9 Provide advice on progress towards primary sector climate change commitments and on the readiness of farmers to start complying with reporting and surrender obligations

Jun

10 Provide any other reports as requested by the Minister

Reports to be provided to date are:

• Advice and recommendations to ensure the first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is compatible with global efforts under the Paris Agreement

May

• Advice on the potential reduction in biogenic methane emissions required of New Zealand as part of global efforts to reach the 1.5 degree Celsius goal.

May

• Advice on what assistance, if any, should be given to participants in an alternative pricing system for farm-level agriculture emissions

Every 6 years

Every 2nd year

Every year

Annually from 20222

As requested by the Minister3

As requested by the Minister

1. These dates reflect the latest time by which the deliverable must be provided. In some cases, there is also the possibility of the Commission providing advice at other times under certain circumstances.

2. The Commission will also consider the Emissions Trading Scheme in advice on the first emissions reduction plan.

3. Increases must be decided before the start of the emissions budget period in which they will apply from 2026 onwards; and decreases before the start of the year in which they will apply from 2031 onwards.

10 Climate Change Commission | Statement of Intent July 2020 – June 2024 11

THE ROLE WE PLAYWe have a role to play in Aotearoa’s climate change response.

We talk with and listen to New Zealanders.

We gather and analyse data and weigh up all the evidence.

We give advice to the Government on what can be achieved and how this can be achieved.

The Government makes the decisions and puts in place climate change policies.

New Zealanders change what they do in response to those policies.

And then we do it all over again, because we are in this for the long haul.

The role we play in the system will help the Government to make good decisions to achieve its climate change goals and avoid costly mistakes.


OUR APPROACH

1 ENGAGE AND CONSULT

We have conversations with and listen to New Zealanders. The advice we develop has a lasting impact for Aotearoa and all who live here. Because of this, we need to understand and consider the perspectives of all New Zealanders and take them on the journey with us. We need to understand the specific impacts of our advice on Iwi/Māori, partner with Iwi/Māori in developing our advice, and incorporate te ao Māori into our approach. This means working in partnership. This stage is two-way and ongoing. We will engage and consult multiple times as we form our advice.

2 COLLATE THE EVIDENCE

We gather and analyse data and weigh up all the evidence. Our evidence must be relevant and comprehensive. We gather our data and information from a wide range of credible sources. We need to be methodical in our approach to data collection and modelling and always keep it up to date. We must also test the quality of our evidence and refine it with Iwi/Māori, and a wide range of stakeholders.

The Act requires us to think broadly about the impacts and effects of climate change and our policy response now and into the future. This means we need to take a wide system view and to consider all aspects of that system – ecology and the environment, how any changes would affect individuals and households, and what our advice would mean for business, our society and our economy.

3 ADVISE AND MONITOR

We deliver high quality advice to the Government and monitor progress to meet Aotearoa’s emissions reduction and adaptation goals. The Government implements policies that support and incentivise the transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions future. We provide the Government with other independent advice on issues if we identify something that could impact Aotearoa’s ability to meet its climate change goals. By providing independent and evidence-based advice, we help Aotearoa make good choices and avoid costly mistakes.

4 WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN

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How we will make a difference To deliver high quality and independent advice to the Government and monitor progress to meet Aotearoa’s emissions reduction and adaptation goals we must stay true to our approach, our vision and our mission.

The outcomes diagram opposite illustrates how we expect to be effective (our impacts), what we will deliver and our core capabilities.

OUR OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK There are two medium-term societal changes that, along with other contributors, we wish to support through our work. These are our outcomes:

• An equitable transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa.

• Aotearoa delivers on its commitments to global climate change action.


OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK

Vision A thriving, climate-resilient and low-emissions

Aotearoa

A wide range of government and non-government activities

Mission To deliver independent, evidence-based advice

to guide climate change action for Aotearoa

WHERE WE EVALUATE OUR PERFORMANCE

OUR STRATEGIES

FOR DELIVERY

OUTCOMES

Analysis, modelling and research

Sourcing information

Partnership with Iwi/Māori

Communications

Process management

Engagement with New Zealanders

Systems thinking

Core 2020-2024 work programme

Ministerial requests and other independent advice

Building the Commission

Engagement and consultation programme

Advice that influences actions by government

Advice is perceived as independent, expert, evidence-based and pragmatic

Iwi/Māori and stakeholders are confident their perspectives have been considered

Our impacts

Core organisational capabilities

What we deliver

Perform Provide high-quality advice to government and monitor progress to meet the emissions reduction and adaptation goals of Aotearoa

An equitable transition to a climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa

Aotearoa delivers on its commitments to global climate change action

Connect Develop constructive and meaningful relationships with Iwi/Māori and stakeholders to bring about an equitable transition

Build Be a credible and trusted independent advisor with the capability to guide our response to climate change

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WORK PROGRAMME

IMPACT INDICATORS

OUTPUT INDICATORS

OUTCOME INDICATORS

Core 2020-2024 work programme

• Emissions budgets• Emissions reduction

plans• Monitoring

emissions budgets and national adaptation plans

• Te Mahere Whakamua (Māori analysis and engagement strategy)

Engagement and consultation programme

• Iwi/Māori• Stakeholders

Building the Commission

Establishing the structure, capability and support systems, policies and processes

Ministerial requests and other independent advice

Timely delivery of reports and advice

Progress towards achieving our climate change targets

Government response to the Commission’s advice

Progress towards a climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa

External views of the Commission’s work – is it independent, expert, evidence-based, pragmatic?

Reference to the Commission’s advice beyond the original purpose – by government, local government, business and civil society

Iwi/Māori and stakeholders are confident their perspectives have been considered

High quality of work

Clear delivery of message

Partnership with Iwi/Māori

Effective engagement and consultation with stakeholders

Good process management

OUR APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

HOW WE WILL MEASURE THE DIFFERENCE WE ARE MAKINGThe Commission’s approach to performance measurement is summarised in the performance framework diagram below. Details of our performance measures are contained in our Statement of Performance Expectations.


We will subject our advice and reports to rigorous internal and external evaluation to ensure our work is robust, relevant, clear and influences decision-making and action about climate change in Aotearoa.

Measurement and evaluation of our performance is based around:

• Internal processes to ensure that what we deliver has been robustly canvassed, developed, assessed and signed off.

• External peer reviews.

• Monitoring our own carbon footprint.

• Responses from external participants in our work about their ability to engage with our work, our understanding of their concerns and interests, and the quality of our communications.

• Analysis of how our advice is used – by central and local government, Iwi/Māori, business, and civil society.

The reports and advice that we prepare will be published. Subsequent recommendations and feedback will be actively considered to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

REPORTING ON IMPACTS The Commission is an advisory body and does not run or implement any policies or programmes. We rely solely on the power and communication of our analysis and ideas to achieve impact. We are seeking the following impacts:

• Advice influences actions by government.

• Advice is perceived as independent, expert, evidence-based and pragmatic.

• Iwi/Māori and stakeholders are confident their perspectives have been considered.

Our influence may be direct and immediate (ie through the acceptance of our advice and recommendations leading to changes in policy and behaviours) or long term and indirect (through improving progress towards achieving climate change goals in Aotearoa).

REPORTING ON OUTCOMESOur timeframes are long-range – from 2020 through to 2050 and beyond – and it is likely that not every aspect of our performance framework will be able to be tested every year.

17

Organisational health and capabilityAs a new Crown entity, we need to focus on establishing the capability, culture, processes and systems to support the work we do.

The quality of our people is critical to our success, particularly their expertise, analytical skills and ability to engage and influence. Given the new and emerging role of the Commission, it is important that we bring the right people into the team – people who share our values and add the diversity we need to deliver the best possible advice and reports.

To do this, we will provide a supportive and collaborative environment where people can bring their best ideas, their passion and their desire to make a difference. We will make it easy for new people to settle in, provide coaching and appropriate support for development and encourage cross-pollination across the team to raise capability and diversity of knowledge and skills.

We will establish a permanent structure that works for us and employ a core team of permanent staff supported by a limited number of secondments, temporary employees and contractors as needed.

Our work requires a high level of capability in areas such as economics, public policy, emissions trading, land and resource management, physics and climate science, mathematical and computational modelling, engineering, behavioural sciences, impacts and adaptation science, te ao Māori (including tikanga Māori, te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori), strategy and engagement and communications. We also need the integrative skills to provide coherent and usable advice. Our capability will build our reputation as a credible and trusted independent advisor.

VALUESAs part of building the Commission, we will take the time over our first full year to engage with our staff, Commissioners and our stakeholders to develop an agreed set of values that will guide the Commission in developing and supporting the behaviours that we prize and the way we go about our work.

To ensure these are lived values, we will weave them through our policies, processes and practice.


WELLBEING STRATEGYOur people are an integral part of the Commission and their wellbeing is essential to our success. We are taking a holistic approach to wellbeing, designing a wellbeing strategy that uses the principles of Te Whare Tapa Whā. Te Whare Tapa Whā consists of taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional), taha tinana (physical) and taha whānau (family) considerations. Together, all four are necessary and, in balance, represent ‘best health’.

VALUING DIVERSITYThe Commission recognises that our thinking and advice need to be informed by a diverse range of views so that our credibility, value and effectiveness are enhanced. We need to understand different perspectives, seek out new insights and recalibrate our viewpoints in the light of new and evolving evidence.

BEING A GOOD EMPLOYER Over the next four years, the Commission will implement our obligation to be a ‘good employer’ and develop equal opportunities for all. This will help us deliver on our strategic objectives and ensure we can meet the capability needs of the Commission in a challenging labour market. Our people management practices will evolve to meet the challenges of future employees who may have different needs, motivations and behaviours. Our people are essential to ensure we maintain excellence and a high level of performance and results.

We will have policies and procedures in place to support equal opportunities for staff. We intend to review our workplace profile regularly to identify any gaps or issues of concern and take actions to address these issues. This will assist us in ensuring we have productive and talented staff who reflect the wider Aotearoa community and our responsibilities to te ao Māori.

The Commission will measure its success in providing equal opportunity employment through assessments of our employee profile, staff morale, confidence in the organisation, and perceptions of fairness and equity.

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As a new organisation, the Commission assesses organisational risk on a regular basis to better understand and actively manage emerging and ongoing risks and to ensure this understanding is reflected appropriately in the way we operate. At a higher level of analysis, our strategic risks take into account the environment in which we operate and how we want to be known in that environment. Our identified strategic risks and responses to them are shown in the following table.

Strategic risks


WHAT WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR

RISK AREAS

MITIGATION

Credible, trusted, independent advisor

Perception of bias and/or loss of independence

We will ensure that our advice is based on sound and documented evidence, that we engage and consult widely as part of developing advice, that our reports and advice are published, and that briefings are offered widely to Iwi/Māori, stakeholders and political parties when new advice is released.

Organisational capability to guide Aotearoa’s response to climate change

Inadequate staff expertise, budget and data resources, management systems, and timelines to deliver complex advice

We will draw on multi-disciplinary and cross-sector expertise inside and outside the Commission, including internationally, to develop our advice; develop data sharing protocols with government departments; continually monitor and improve management processes; and align work commitments with budget and time allocations.

Constructive and meaningful relationships

Poor participative processes or engagement/consultation

We will design and implement a comprehensive strategy for engagement and consultation based on a commitment to broad participation, collaboration and partnership; and actively measure the effects of our engagement to promote continual improvement.

Assisting in an equitable climate change transition

Seen as unfairly favouring some interests over others

We will develop analytical tools for assessing the distributional impacts of our advice, including specific consideration of impacts on Iwi/Māori; ensure that we engage and consult widely as part of developing advice; publish our reports and advice; and offer briefings widely to Iwi/Māori, stakeholders and political parties when new advice is released.

High-quality advice to government

Weak analysis or insufficient knowledge; advice seen as overly theoretical, bureaucratic or lacking practicability

We will ensure that we apply evidence from credible sources; that our approaches to analysis and modelling are robust; that we engage and consult widely; and that our reports are appropriately documented and peer reviewed before release. We will also ensure that staff have time to pursue professional and knowledge development.

Ability to monitor progress to meet emissions reduction and adaptation goals

Weak or missing monitoring systems or insufficient knowledge

We will define key progress indicators and monitoring processes; work with government and other stakeholders on data collection and sharing for monitoring; and provide transparent and well-documented public reporting on our monitoring activities.

21

Our financial outlook

Financial strategy is a key part of the Commission’s overall organisational strategy. Our financial strategy includes an emphasis on financial sustainability as a critical part of how we will meet organisational priorities and goals.

It is likely that the Commission will be given additional responsibilities from time to time and it is critical that these extra pieces of work are additionally and appropriately resourced. Otherwise, the Commission risks:

• Not being able to deliver on our core, statutory responsibilities, and/or

• Delivering advice that is not fit for purpose because it has not been developed to a sufficiently high quality, and/or

• Delivering advice out of agreed timeframes.


TERM DEFINITION

Adaptation Actions that can help people or natural systems adjust to the actual or expected impacts of climate change. Actions can be incremental and temporary in their effect or transformational by changing systems and their functions, depending on the scale and pace of change and what is at stake.

Biogenic methane Methane emissions resulting from biological processes in the waste and agriculture sectors.

Climate resilience Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of changing climate, including those that we know about and can anticipate and those that occur as extreme events. This includes planning now for sea level rise and more frequent flooding. It is also about being ready to respond to extreme events like forest fires or extreme floods, and to trends in precipitation and temperature that emerge over time like droughts.

Emissions Greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. The Climate Change Response Act 2002 covers the following greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride.

Emissions budget The cumulative amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted over a certain period. In the Climate Change Response Act 2002, emissions budgets are the total amount of all greenhouse gases (expressed as a net amount of carbon dioxide equivalent) that can be released over a five-year period (or four years in the case of 2022-2025).

Emissions reduction plan

A plan setting out the policies and strategies for meeting an emissions budget, as required by the Climate Change Response Act 2002.

Gross emissions Gross emissions include total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, energy, industrial processes and product use (e.g. cement production, refrigeration) and waste. Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide removals due to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) are excluded.

Iwi/Māori Iwi is a term that describes an extended kinship group (i.e., descended from a common ancestor). The use of the phrase ‘Iwi/Māori’ acknowledges the Commission’s developing relationship with Māori in general (which is a very broad term), but also with Iwi as representative bodies often mandated to speak on behalf of their members.

Glossary

23

TERM DEFINITION

Mitigation Human actions to reduce emissions by sources or enhance removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. Examples of reducing emissions by sources include walking instead of driving, or replacing a coal boiler with a renewable-powered electric one. Examples of enhancing removals by sinks include growing new trees to absorb carbon, or industrial carbon capture and storage activities.

National adaptation plan

National adaptation plans are required by the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to set out the objectives, strategies, policies and proposals for adapting to the effects of climate change.

Net emissions Net emissions differ from gross emissions in that they also include emissions from the land use, land use change and forestry sector as well as removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as removals of carbon dioxide from the growth of trees.


Climate Change Commission

Level 21, 1 Willis Street Wellington 6011 PO Box 24448 Wellington 6142

www.climatecommission.govt.nz

Documents

Statement of Intent...Climate Change Commission | Statement of Intent July 2020 – June 2024 Ngā mihi nui ki a tātou Welcome to the Climate Change Commission. We are a new Crown